Azalea Trail Run
The Azalea Trail Run is an annual road running event held in late March in Mobile, Alabama which is considered one of the United States' premier road races. Runners, walkers, and wheelchair athletes from around the world and at all levels turn out for the event. The 10-kilometer race is known for its fast, flat course along Mobile's oak shaded streets and has seen blistering records set by runners since its inception.[1] The 2023 race will be the 45th annual running.[2]
| Azalea Trail Run | |
|---|---|
 Azalea Trail Run logo | |
| Date | late March |
| Location | Mobile, Alabama  |
| Event type | Road |
| Distance | 10 kilometers (6.2 mi) |
| Established | 1978 |
| Course records | M: 27:26 (2001) Abraham ChebiiF: 31:29 (1997)  Colleen De Reuck |
| Official site | www.pcpacers.org/atr/ |
In 2001, Joseph Kimani of Kenya finished within two seconds of setting a new world record in the men's open division in 27:41. John Campbell of New Zealand established a world’s best time for a male masters athlete (over 50 years of age) in 1999 with his time of 31:02. In 1994, Martin Mondragon of Mexico set the current world record for men masters, at 28:56.[1]
The two-day, family-friendly event was founded in 1978 and includes a world class 10K race, a 5K race, a fun run, and a Health and Fitness Expo.[3] The ATR is produced by the Port City Pacers, a local nonprofit organization with the mission of promoting health and fitness through running and walking.[1] 2,000 participants attended the 2015 race.[2]
Past winners
Key: Course record
| Edition | Year | Men's winner | Time (m:s) | Women's winner | Time (m:s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1978 | Bill Rodgers (USA) | 30:26 | Lisa Savell (USA) | 40:15 |
| 2nd | 1979 | Marty Liquori (USA) | 30:39 | Gayle Barron (USA) | 37:31 |
| 3rd | 1980 | Ken Misner (USA) | 29:34 | Dolly Harrison (USA) | 37:38 |
| 4th | 1981 | Bill Rodgers (USA) | 29:01 | Patti Catalano (USA) | 32:32 |
| 5th | 1982 | Bill Rodgers (USA) | 28:59 | Brenda Webb (USA) | 33:01 |
| 6th | 1983 | Bill Rodgers (USA) | 28:37 | Linda McLennan (USA) | 33:18 |
| 7th | 1984 | Simon Kigen (KEN) | 27:57 | Joan Benoit (USA) | 31:57 |
| 8th | 1985 | Ken Martin (USA) | 28:30 |  Priscilla Welch (ENG) | 32:14 |
| 9th | 1986 | Peter Koech (KEN) | 28:03 |  Liz Lynch (SCO) | 32:24 |
| 10th | 1987 | Paul Rugut (KEN) | 28:19 | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Lisa Martin (AUS) | 32:10 |
| 11th | 1988 |  Mauricio González (MEX) | 28:04 | Teresa Ornduff (USA) | 32:27 |
| 12th | 1989 |  John Treacy (IRL) | 28:17 | Wendy Sly (ENG) | 32:15 |
| 13th | 1990 | Martín Pitayo (MEX) | 28:25 | Francie Larrieu Smith (USA) | 32:01 |
| 14th | 1991 | Mauricio González (MEX) | 29:03 | Francie Larrieu Smith (USA) | 32:05 |
| 15th | 1992 | William Sigei (KEN) | 27:45 | Jill Hunter (ENG) | 31:52 |
| 16th | 1993 | William Koech (KEN) | 28:06 |  Wilma van Onna (NED) | 32:07 |
| 17th | 1994 |  Luketz Swartbooi (NAM) | 27:51 |  Karolina Szabó (HUN) | 32:55 |
| 18th | 1995 | Joseph Kimani (KEN) | 27:41 | Delilah Asiago (KEN) | 32:07 |
| 19th | 1996 | Lazarus Nyakeraka (KEN) | 27:44 | Judi St. Hilaire (USA) | 32:24 |
| 20th | 1997 | Joseph Kimani (KEN) | 27:54 | Colleen De Reuck (RSA) | 31:29 |
| 21st | 1998 | Simon Rono (KEN) | 27:55 | Catherina McKiernan (IRL) | 32:10 |
| 22nd | 1999 | Joseph Kimani (KEN) | 28:01 | Colleen De Reuck (RSA) | 32:36 |
| 23rd | 2000 | Dominic Kirui (KEN) | 27:49 | Jane Omoro (KEN) | 32:39 |
| 24th | 2001 | Abraham Chebii (KEN) | 27:26 | Gladys Asiba (KEN) | 32:42 |
| 25th | 2002 | John Itati (KEN) | 27:58 | Gladys Asiba (KEN) | 32:08 |
| 26th | 2003 | Linus Maiyo (KEN) | 27:36 | Edna Kiplagat (KEN) | 32:12 |
| 27th | 2004 | John Itati (KEN) | 28:55 |  Olga Romanova (RUS) | 32:45 |
| 28th | 2005 | Luke Kipkosgei (KEN) | 28:37 | Sally Barsosio (KEN) | 32:28 |
| 29th | 2006 | Samuel Ndereba (KEN) | 28:35 | Sally Barsosio (KEN) | 32:19 |
| 30th | 2007 | Samuel Ndereba (KEN) | 28:01 |  Rehima Kedir (ETH) | 32:02 |
| 31st | 2008 | Moses Kigen (KEN) | 28:15 | Genoveva Kigen (KEN) | 32:11 |
| 32nd | 2009 |  Ridouane Harroufi (MAR) | 28:14 | Genoveva Kigen (KEN) | 32:49 |
| 33rd | 2010 | John Cheruiyot (KEN) | 27:59 | Belaynesh Zemedkun (ETH) | 32:24 |
| 34th | 2011 | Richard Kandie (KEN) | 29:15 | Janet Cherobon-Bawcom (USA) | 33:22 |
| 35th | 2012 | Shadrack Kosgei (KEN) | 28:19 | Janet Cherobon-Bawcom (USA) | 32:41 |
| 36th | 2013 | Elly Sang (KEN) | 28:58 | Ogla Kimaiyo (KEN) | 32:33 |
| 37th | 2014 | Julius Kogo (KEN) | 27:58 | Janet Cherobon-Bawcom (USA) | 32:03 |
| 38th | 2015 | John Muritu (KEN) | 28:34 | Susan Jerotich (KEN) | 33:43 |
| 39th | 2016 | Dominic Ondoro (KEN) | 28:25 | Caroline Chepkoech (KEN) | 31:58 |
| 40th | 2017 | Dominic Ondoro (KEN) | 28:04 | Nancy Nzisa (KEN) | 32:49 |
| 41st | 2018 | Bernard Ngeno (KEN) | 27:45 | Monicah Ngige (KEN) | 32:18 |
| 42nd | 2019 | Dominic Korir (KEN) | 28:34 | Paige Fisher (USA) | 35:55 |
| 2020 | Not held due to COVID-19 pandemic | ||||
| 43rd | 2021 | Zachary Anderson (USA) | 32:57 | Kir Selert Faraud (USA) | 35:22 |
Wins by country
| Country | Men's race | Women's race | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya | 29 | 14 | 43 |
| United States | 8 | 16 | 24 |
| England | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Mexico | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Ethiopia | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Ireland | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| South Africa | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Australia | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Hungary | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Namibia | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Netherlands | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Morocco | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Russia | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Scotland | 0 | 1 | 1 |
References
- "Azalea Trail Run Celebrates 30th Anniversary" (PDF). MdiDrive.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-05-01.
- Levins, Angela (March 15, 2015). "Azalea Trail Run races its 38th year through Mobile, what you need to know". AL.com. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
- "Event Calendar". CityOfMObile.org. Retrieved 2007-04-30.
- List of winners
- Post, Marty (2010-03-30). Azalea Trail 10 km. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved on 2010-12-09.